Surface condenser.



A. HARRIS & P. A. ANDERSON.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1905.

901,809. Pater ted Oct. 20, 1903.

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A. HARRIS & P. A; ANDERSON.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1905.

901 ,809, Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. ANTHONY HARRIS, 0F GREENOGK; SCOTLAND; AND FREDE'RIC ALFRED ANDERSON,

. OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

stmFiicE comzumsaza.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ANTHONY .I'IARRIS, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing in Greenock, Scotland, and

Fnnnnmo ALFRED ANnnusoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing in the city of Westminster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surface Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to surface condensers and it has for its object to overcome the disadvantages arising from the corrosion of the cop or or Muntz metal surfaces or tubes due to t e impurities contained in the circulating water.

It is known that metals such as those above specified may be to some extent protected against the corrosive action of the impurities in the water by means of a mass of zmc sus pended in such water and in metallic contact with the surfaces it is desired to protect. The disadvantages present in the above system have however been such as to prevent its general employment and among these disadvantages may be instanced the necessity for preserving a bright or clean surface upon the zinc in order to insure its full and efiicient action. This necessitates a more or less frequent removal of the zinc for cleansing purposes. rapidly disintegrate, particularly at the point of contact causing detachment and in any case the rapidity with which it wastes away entails its renewal at inconveniently frequent intervals. Moreover, as zinc enters so largely into the composition of Muntz metal, the electro positive protection of some other metal than ZlllC itself seems preferable.

We have found that aluminium when employed in the manner specified not only prevents the corrosion of the tubes or surfaces but is not open to the objections previously enumerated, inasmuch as the surface thereof remains clean and consequently the necessity for removing the mass to clean same is avoided.- Further, the metal does not rapidly disinte rate. The preservation of the tubes or sur aces may be insured by employing a metal which is electro positive to the surfaces to be protected, but which does not rapidly disintegrate.

In carrying the invention into effect We employ a mass of aluminium which is electropositive to the surfaces to be protected. The

Y I Specification of Letters Patent.

Applieation filed April 26, 1906. Serial No. 267,874.

Further, the zinc is liable to.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

aluminium or other protective metal may be in the form of plates, bars or any other convenient form and may be placedin one or more of the water s aces, and suitably connected and in metal ic contact with the surfaces to be protected. Thus for example, assuming the invention to be employed 1n conjunction with a condenser of ordinary form, a mass of aluminium may be secured in any convenient manner within one or both of the water spaces, the mass being in metallic contact with the tubes. The aluminium may be secured to the tube plates in metallic contact therewith, means bemg provided if necessary to insure a proper contact between the said 'tube plates and the tubes themselves.

While the above arrangement is givenmerely as a practical illustration of the application of the invention, it will be under stood that it is not necessary .that the protective metal be disposed within the condenser itself, as it may be disposed externally of the condenser or within a separate receptacle distinct from the condenser, and through which the circulating water may pass to' or from the said condenser, or in a suitable receptacle directly connected to the source from which the circulating water is derived. Under these latter circumstances the receptacle would preferably be of such form and arrangement to enable the water to be shut off therefrom, and also to enable ready access to the protective metal contained therein for the purposes of examination or renewal. It will of course be understood that the aluminium is in metallic contact with the surfaces to be protected-We do not, however desire to limit ourselves to any specific arrangement or combination of parts for giving practical effect to our invention as it is considered that any application of aluminium which is electro-positive to the condenser surfaces, fall within the ambit of the present invention.

An example 'of the application of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows one end of a condenser, to which the inventionhas been applied, the end or cover being removed in order to show the arrangement of the blocks, the tubes being omitted. Fig. 2 is a'similar View of with the protectors thereon. Fig. 5 is a scct-i'mal view to an enlarged scale showing the Connection between the protector and the tube plate. Fig. (3 is a front view of one of the protectors. Fig.- 7, is an enlarged sectional view of an alternative form to that shown of 5 and (3; and Fig. 8 is a front View thereof.

In the appended drawings a indicates the condenser shell, I) 0 (Z and c the respective water spaces.

f f indicate the tube plates, and (y the protective masses, of aluminium.

As will be seen on reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and (3, at the inlet end the tube plate is provided with studs h which are tapped into the plate f and upon which are mounted protective masses of metal 9 aforesaid. The studs are each provided with sleeves or distance pieces 72 and the mass is clamped thereon by means of a nut 7L2, vulcanite, or other suitable bushes if being interposed between the end of a washer, disposed at the end of the sleeve hf before referred to, and the nut If, so that there is no contact between the supporting stud h and the mass 9. Terminals j are secured to the mass 9 to which are connected the ends of suitable cased conductors j. The conductors are led through tubes 7' to the opposite tube plate f where they are stripped and placed in electrical contact with the tube plate by means of studs j which are tapped into ferrules screwed into the tube plate in the ordinary manner, and beneath which may be provided a suitable gromet so that the perfect contact may be insured between the ferrule and the tube plate. It will thus be seen that the mass 9 although supported on plate. f is in metallic contact with the plate f.

In order to afford local protection to may provide protective masses of metal I.; which may be secured directly to the tube plate. Masses such as those referred to are shown at Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8. These masses would be connected to the tube plate substantially in the manner as the masses 1 before referred to. In this case, however, the provision of insulating collars would not be necessary, the masses being secured directly to studs such as those it before referred to, as shown in Fig. 7.

Obviously the number of the protective blocks and the position and method of connecting same with the surfaces to be protected may be varied in accordance with the circumstances of each particular case.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is In a surface condenser, the combination with the vessel containing the conduits for condensing, of a body of aluminium arranged to be immersed in the water in the vessel, and in electrical connection with the portions of the conduit engaged by the water in the vessel.

In witness whereof wehave set ourhands in the presence of witnesses.

ANTHONY HARRIS. FREDERIC ALFRED ANDERSON.

\Vitnesses to signature of Anthony Harris:

IVILLIAM Greener; CLneo, ALLAN M. VILSUN.

Vitnesses to signature of Frederic Alfred Anderson i E. BAMBRIDGE, FRED. 0. SHORT. 

